Stable isotope systematics in complex carbonates: Decoding geochemical processes and environmental conditions on Earth and other planets

复杂碳酸盐中的稳定同位素系统学：解码地球和其他行星上的地球化学过程和环境条件

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-05810
• 负责人: Kim, SangTae
• 金额: $ 2.62万
• 依托单位: McMaster University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=717841
• 关键词: Stable; isotope; systematics; complex; carbonates

Carbonates, such as corals and cave deposits, have been one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's surface throughout its geological history. Carbonates of varying chemical compositions were also found in some Martian meteorites. Therefore, carbonates have been extensively studied by earth scientists as a natural archive from which Earth and other planet's environmental history can be reconstructed. My research program has focused on studying stable isotope systematics of carbonate minerals to accurately decode geochemical and environmental signals hidden in the carbonate minerals. The main objective of my Discovery research proposal is to gain a detailed understanding of stable isotope systematics of structurally complex carbonate minerals, such as dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) with two distinct cation layers and ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O) containing water in its crystal structure. Although they are less abundant than the well-known carbonate, or calcite, under Earth's surface condition, these structurally complex carbonates are still of geological importance and have high potential as geochemical proxies for probing geochemical processes and climatic/environmental conditions from terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments, including Antarctica and Mars. My research team will synthesize two complex carbonates, dolomite and ikaite, under various laboratory conditions by refining my laboratory's well-established synthesis methods and specialized facilities. These carbonates will then be examined carefully for their mineralogical and stable isotope characteristics with respective to their formation mechanisms and conditions to better interpret geochemical or environmental information from the carbonates. Cost-effective or time-efficient analytical techniques, without sacrificing the existing analytical precision, will also be explored for accurate stable isotopic analyses of the two target carbonates not only for my proposed research, but also for the benefit of a broader scientific community. I will also examine natural samples, obtained through national/international collaborations (e.g., ikaite from Antarctica), to validate our experimental findings and interpret geochemical data from natural carbonates to accurately uncover Earth and other planet's climate/environmental history. The outcome of my proposed research will open a new opportunity to use terrestrial or extraterrestrial carbonates that have been neglected or unexplored by the scientific community due to lack of scientific understanding and analytical challenges to uncover Earth and other planet's climate/environmental history. This is important to predict Earth's future climate variability, providing our government and public to prepare for relevant guidelines and regulations. My proposed research will also provide highly qualified personnel (HQP) with cutting-edge research experience and help them to develop essential analytical and research skills required for their future careers.

在整个地球上，碳酸盐的矿物质在地球表面上是一个多功能化学成分，也是某些陨石，是一种天然档案碳酸盐矿物质的系统学以准确解码解码地球化学和环境信号信号隐藏在碳酸盐矿物中。 我的Discosarch提议的主要目标是获得内部的，例如白云岩（CAMG（CO3）2），具有两个不同的大教堂，而Ikaite（Caco3·6H2O）含有水的晶体结构较少。或方解石，这些结构上的碳酸盐是在陆地和外星环境（包括南极和火星）的环境条件的地球化学替代物中具有的重要性和高潜力。 我的研究团队将在各种实验室条件下综合两个复杂的碳酸盐，即白云岩和Ikaite，通过完善我的实验室的合成和专业设施，这些碳酸盐将与其形成机制和条件各自的特征。碳酸盐。以及其他星球的气候/环境历史。 我拟议的研究的结果是，由于缺乏科学理解和分析性的夏伦（Charlenges）而被科学的陆地或外星碳酸盐被科学抓住或杀死，以揭示我们的未来变异性，这对于预测地球的差异很重要，提供了goblic的差异。为了准备相关的指南和法规。